Street-sweeper.



F. C. HOFFER L J. F. SMEDLEY.

STREET SWEEPER.

APPucATmN FILED AUGJ, |916.

Patented Jan. 29, 1.915%.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. C. HOFFER J. F. SIVIEDLEY.

STREET SWE'EPEH.

APPLlcATmN man Amm, 191e. Lmw Patented Jan. 29,1918.

' a SHEETS-SHEET ign/umm ,ffm J Jiba/zalf F, c. HOHER (Q1. F. SMEDLEY.

STREET SWEEPER. APPLmATmN FILED AUG.1,91s.

Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n are ren.

FRED C. HOFFER, OF LOS ANGLES, AND JESSE FRANK SMEDLEY, OF PASADENA, CALI- FORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO MOTORCYCLE SWEEPER COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

STREET-SWEEPER'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented't an. 29, twin.

The principal objections to the majority' ot street sweepers which have been put into practical use are that they are too costly, large, complicated and expensive. to operate. These devices because ol their size as a rule are very ditlicult to operate in congested streets and cannot be made to sweep in narrow places such as alleys and the like. .Tn most of the large cities the street sweeping departments still retain a corps of men who sweep by hand or with small. handoperated devices. This method of sweeping,l is costly, requires a great deal of time and not specially satisfactory because of the failure ot the operators to thoroughly sweep the streets. It the primary object ot this invention to provide a comparatively li `ight, small and easily operable street sweeping device which may be ettectively operated to thoroughly clean streets in an expeditious manner.

Another object is to provide a streetsweepingmachine which includes standard motorcycle construction so attached to the street sweeping elements that the sweep inp` means may be operated trom the motor of the motorcycle and :t practical street sweeping machine provided.

fr 'Further object is to provide a street sweepingv machine ot' the character described whichprincipally includes a rotary sweepim; brush, a 'frame tor the brush, a standard motorcycle constructed for suport-ing the frame, and means associated with the brush for picking up and storingI rubbish swept up thereby` such elements being so arranged and constructed relative to one another that the entire machine is enceptionally light, small and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain in operation although capable of as effectively and thoroughly cleaning and sweeping streets as larger and more complicated machines such a s l ieretotore menti cned.

Another object of .this invention is to provide a novel frame construction which cooperates with the motorcycle construction and supports the principal street sweeping elements. i

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view ot the street sweeping machine with the casing or covering for the sweeping` and other ele* ments of the machine removed.

F ig. 2 is a side elevation ot the machine showing parts in section and the brush in position for operation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the brush and cooperating parts in outof-the-way position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation .ot the machine.

F ig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail perspective view ot the clutch means and portion of the motor.

Referringlo the drawings, l designates as an entiretyY a motorcycle, 2 a traine of the ordinary and standard motorcycle construction, 3 a rear wheel, t the motor of the motorcycle whichv is connected in the ordinary manner with and drives the wheel 3, the package or luggage carrier ot the motorcycle and 6 the steering .means or handle hars and cooperating parts ot thel motorcycle. In this motorcycle, as will be later more fully described, the front wheel and tront fork tor supporting the same are removed from the motorcycle in order to attach the street sweeping' means.

A frame 7 is attached to the motorcycle and comprises channel iron lbars 8 and 9 mounted on opposite sides of the motorcycle and secured at their rear ends to the motorcycle frame 2 at a point. adjacent the axle ot the rear wheel 8. Angular brackets 10 are bolted as at 11 to the rear ends of the bars 8 and 9 and as at 12 to attaching plates 13 in which the rear axle` for the wheel 3 is journaled, so as to space the bars trom the sides ot the trame 2. Thebars 8 and 9 extend outwardly and upwardly :trom the sides of the motorcycle or, in other words, are upwardly inclined and diverged although located in the same plane. Y

At points intermediate their ends but -adjacent to their outer ends the bars 8 and.

9 are parallel and at their free ends are secured b y suitable fastening means 11 to by end bars 18 and 19. The bar 16 is considerably longer than and extends beyond the end of the bar 17, and the bars 1S and 19 extend upwardly parallel to one another for a v`distance equal to approximately twothirds of their lengthand then outwardly and slightly npwzn'dly las at 20. l? rom this point the bars are parallel to one another. This yoffset construction provides lor the "positioning of the front wheel S1 in close relation to the ft'rame 15 :and the poi'- tionsQO ot the bars 18 and 19 overlie the wheels 21. Y

The wheels 21 are connected by the ordinary rmeans with the bars 1S and 19 adjacent to the lower :ends 'ot' said bars. Steering arms 23 are connected. with the wheels ,Q1 and with a horizontal steering rod 2-1 which latterhas operative connection with a vertical steering shaft 25. The shaft is journaled in the bars 16 andv 177 approxior longer brush.

mately centrally at the ends of said bars preferably and extends Vabove and through tl bar 16. ,On its upper end the shaft 25 carries a horizontal ar1n26 which is secured tothe shaft intermediate its ends and at its ends is ,connectedl with steering links 27. Thelinks '27 extend over the sweeping mechanism' and'have' pivotal connection with the ends yot' a steering arm 28 which is similar to the onn 26 and connected with the rotary steering member 29 -oi' the handle bars or steeringmeans 6. To reinforce and'strengthen the barsof the frame 7,v there is provided a brace bar 30 which is secured at its ends as at l31 to the bars S and 9 and by brackets to one ofthe front frame members ot the motorcycle 'trame 2. as shown clearly in Figs. 1 andV Q of the drawings.

Y sweeping means is provided and com- 'prises a rotary cylindrical brush 33 including stiftV bristles. the brush being substantially the same length as the width ot' the frame f7V at the widest point. This, however, is optional, it being possible .to use a shorter Bearing brackets 31 are secured asrat 35 to the `bars 8 and 9 and journaled in said brackets transversely o't' the frame '7 and'beneath the latter is a horizontal shaft36. Loosely mounted upon and depending from 'the shaft 36 are brush supporting Aarms 37 which are located adjacent to the ends of said shaft Y36 and have adjustable connections 38 with shorter arms k39. -Journaled in the arms 39 is the brush shaft'aO to which the Abrush 33 is lixed and secured to the sha'lt 36 at the ends thereot are sprocket wheels 11 rove around `which arechains Similarrsprockets 43 are lfixed to the shaft 36 and the chains 42 are mounled upon and driven by said smaller sprockets. The tension of the chains may be regulated by properly manipulating the adjustable connections 3S for the arms 39 and 3T.

A drive sprocket. leal. which is driven by a chain 45 mounted upon a sprocket .l-6 is eon nected with the motor 1 and operates to drive the shaft 36 through a chain t7 and sprockets 1S, 18 and 49, the latter sprocket being fixed to the shaft 36 intermediate the ends thereof. Suitable clutch mechanism is associated with the drive chain l5 and drive sprocket 4l. This clutch mechanism includes a lever 517 an operating pedal 52, link connectingl the lever and pedal and a spring 5l for normally holding the lever 5l inY position. to hold the clutch out There is provided a spring catch tor holding the clutch pedal 52 in operative position and this spring catch comprises a strip o'li spring' metal 56 which is secured as at 57 to some suitable part of the motor -l and is provided adjacent to its lower end with an oll'seiv which forms a shoulder 58. The pedal 5;) rides upon the outer tace of the strip 56 and said strip is spaced save where connected. from the motor so that as the pedal is pushed downwardly it will snap in engagement wil h the shoulder 5S and be held in operative position. An. angular guard arm 59 is secured to the lower end of the strip 56 to act as a buffer and allow the operator to kiek the catch as a whole, inwardly to el'l'ect the release ot the pedal 52. By pushing the atch inwardly the shoulder 5S is moved from overlying relation to the pedal 52 and the spring li moves the pedal and coperating clutch parts into normal position.

The sprocket #18 is journaled in a bearing 60 carried by the brace bar 3() and the chain l? is mounted upon the sprockets lS and l-S. the sprocket i9 being located beneath the lower side of the chain 14T and in mesh with said chain.y as shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the d 1awings` lThis provides 'tor the rotation ol the shaft 36 and brush 33.

To provide for the raising and lowering olf the brush. a shalt 61 is journaled transversely of the frame and parallel to the shall 36, in bearings 62 which are carried by bearing brackets 3-lf. At its ends this shaft 6l` has rocker arms 63 rigidly secured thereto and connected with the ends of the rocker arms are adjustable links 65 pivotally connected with the arms 39 in which the brush is journaled. Intermediate its ends the shaft 61 has a crank arm 66 [ixed thereto and said crank arm is pivotally connected by a link 6T with a lever 68. The lever 6b' is pivoled upon a bar 69 which is secured at its ends to the bar 9 and brace bar 30 to one side ol the motorcycle traine :2. This` lever 68 is pro. vided with the customary locking lneel1ani:'m T6 and when pulled rearwardly will cau e llli the shaft 61 to rotate and the brush' 33 together with the arms 37 and 39 to be moved upwardly and forwardly into out-of-theway position. 'y

Secured to the bars 8 and 9 adjacent to their forward ends are upstanding bearings 71 in which a conveyer 72 is'pivoted as at 73. In this connection it will be noted that there is provided means to elevate the rubbish swept up by the brush 33 so that it will be deposited into receptacles such as will be later more fully described. The roller 73 is mounted upon a suitable shaft 7st and pivotally connected with this shaft is a cons veyer frame 7 5 of suitable construction which extends downwardly and rearwardly to a point in advance of and adjacent the brush 33. On its lower end the frame 75 carries aconveyer roller 76 and an endless belt or apron 77 having a plurality of transverse cleats 73 thereon is mounted uponthe rollers 73 and 76. Secured to one end of the shaft` 36 is a `sprocket79 having a sprocket chain mounted thereon, said chain being rove around a sprocket 81 which journaled in a bearing 32 fixed tothe upper end of a frame 15. The lower half of the chain 80 extends above the roller 72 and fixed to one end of said roller is a sprocket 33 which meshes with thelower side of the chain and in so doing provides for the rotation of the roller and endless belt or apron 77.

rlhere is provided means which will cause the lower end `of the elevator to be lifted upwardly in out-of-the-way position when the brushv is accordingly moved.` This means comprises hook members 84; which are adjustably secured by suitable' means 85 to the sides of the frame near the lower end of said frame. Brackets 86 are adjustably secured tothe sides of the frame 75 as at S7 and the hooks S4 are pivotally secured by suitable pivots 38 to said brackets 86, there being provided a series of spaced pivot holes V39 in said hooks so that they may be pivoted invarious positions. Retractile springs 90 are securedV to the frame 75 and hooks so as to normally hold the hooks in positions to be engaged. The shaft l0 of the brush 33, when the brush is moved upwardly, engages with the hooks 80, and this lifts the lower end of the conveyer intoposition as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It will be noted that the hooks in being pivoted are free to move in accordance with the upper movement of the'brush and eonveyer and that said hooks are free from any'connection with `the brush.

rlhe means for supporting the rubbish receptacles comprises iayflat horizontal-plate 92 which issccured to the lower bar 17 of the frame 15 and extends rearwardly thereof to a point beneath the conveyer. Hangers 93 secured as at 9-1 to 'the `bars '8 and 9 are secured at their lower ends to and support A. flanged holder member 95 is mounted upon the plate 92 andis of such Vshape as to hold flexible receptacles 96 for the rubbish swept up by the brush. These recepta` cles 96 or sacks are secured at their open ends to the flanged mouths 97 of hoppers or spouts 98 and 99. These hoppers or spouts are carried by the frame 15 and the upper end of the conveyer or endless apron 77 extends into Vsaid spouts. Thus rubbish carried upwardlyV by the conveyer will be deposited to the spouts and thence will drop into the receptacles 96. y i

A dust plate 100 is secured tothe rear sides of the spouts 98 and 99 and extends downwardly and rearwardly over the plate 92, it being seeuredat its lower' edge to the rear edge of said plate 92 and forms tne back wall of a casing which is provided for the receptacles 96. A flexible guard strip 101 is secured to the rear edge and to the side edges of the plate 92 'and depends there from. This strip being spaced from the surface being swept serves to spread out small heaps of rubbish so that it may be more readily swept up by the brush.

Secured to the upper bar 16 of the frame 15 and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom a cover plate 102, the rear edge of which is secured to the brace bar 30.- This plate extends over the frame bars 8 and 9` and covers the spout-s 98 and 99, conveyer,` brush and other Acooperating parts of the sweeping elements. Suitable side curtains 103 and preferably ones which are secured to the plate 102, depend therefrom and at their lower edges are spaced from the surface to be swept. `This will prevent dust'being scattered during the sweep ing action. A curved metal dust plate 104 is secured to the bar 30 and extends downwardly and rearwardly over and back of the brush The lower end of the plate 104k terminates above the lower side of the brush and has secured thereto a flexible strip 105,.

the lower edge of which .is disposed in close relation to the ground or surface being position by arms 110 which are secured toand extendoutwardly from the arms 37. These arms 11,0 are provided with openings 110 which are adapted to register with Vopenings 11,0b inthe arms 108. Pins 110c are inserted through the openings to hold the arms in position. `The sides 103 are secured at their forwardends to the vertical "bars 18 and 19 of the arm 7 ata point rear- Y wardly of the brush 33.

Thus it will be seen that dust will not scatter during the sweeping action in that it is confined by the various dust guards, sides 103 and top 102. An extra supply of receptacles 106 may be folded and carried upon the luggage carrier 5 of lthe motorcycle. The front of the machine is closed by doors 111 hinged at 112V to the frame 15. AThese doors areheld closed by Ypivoted latch members 113 engaging in Y keepers 114 on the bars 18 and 19.

In operation, the brush is lowered from position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings to position shown in Fig. 2 se as to contact with the surface to be swept and this allows the eleva-tor to assume the position whereby rubbish swept up by the brush will be thrown up on .the elevator. The operator .manipulates the motorcycle -as is ordinarily done and can readily steer the device with the steering means 6. l Owing to the construction'of the sweeper and its smallness, it ispossible to thoroughly and effectively sweepnstreets usually inaccessible to street sweepers of the large automatic type now in general use. By pushing the clutch lever 52 Vdownwardly so that it is held by the spring catch 55 the clutch means-50 connects the sprocketV lit with the motor so that said sprocket is rotated and power is transmitted *to the sprocket 4:9 through the chain 47.

The sprocket 49 in rotating causes a rotation ofthe shaft 36 and transmits this rotary movement through the chain 42, to the brush 337 said brush rotating from left to right. Dependent upon .the extent of sweeping necessarythe brush 33 is adjusted relative to the surface to be swept. This adjustment maybe readily effected bymoving the lever 68backward or forward into thedesired position. The rubbish swept up by the brush is prevented from being scattered upwardly at too great an .angle by the plate 109. it

' being possible toV vary the position of the brushing being done.

'conduct vthe .rubbish into the sacks or receptacles 96 and in this way much time is saved and a more effective sweeping action is had. The speed of rotation of the apron 77 Yis increased commensurate with that of the niotor and brush 33 inasmuch as said conn-vcr is driven from the motor, as is tl1 lirnsli. To move the brush out of `sweeping position and the elevator into out-of-tlie-way position, the lever 68 is pulled rearwardly and this causes the projecting ends ol tlie shaft 4:0 to engage with the hooks 8l dni-ing the upward movement, of the brush and to li'lt the elevator into position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This renders the motorcycle adaptable for more rapid travel and is desirous in going` from place to place where the sweeping is required. After l'lie sacks or receptacles 96 become vlilled they may be readily removed by opening llie doors 111.

With reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be seen that we have provided a n'iotorcyclc street sweeper of simple, light and durable construction which is exceptionally mobile.

may be operated at a low cost and to quickly and reliably sweep streets. alleys and small usually inaccessible places as well as roads. boulevards and wide streets.

We claim:

1. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame. a frame secured to the opposite sides of the vehicle frame and extending forwardly and upwardly in front thereof, a sweeping brush connected with the last named frame, means to operatethe brush, and wheels connected with the first and last named fralnes.

2. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame comprising bars .on opposite sides and extending in frontthereof, a rotary sweeping brush connected with the second named frame, means to operate the brush, and wheels connected with and supporting the outer end of the second named frame.

3. A street sweeper comprising a. vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame and extending in front thereof, a rotary sweeping brush connected with the second named frame, means to raise and lower the brush, means to operate the brush, and wheels supporting the first and second named frames.

4c. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame and comprising bars on opposite sides and extending in front of the vehicle frame, a rotary sweeping brush, a frame for supporting the brush connected with the second named frame, means to operate the brush, a frame secured to the outer end of the second named frame, and wheels connected with the last named and vehicle frames.

5. In a street sweeper, a vehicle fame, steering means on said frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame comprising bars on opposite sides of and extending in front of the vehicle frame, va rotary sweeping brush connectedwith thebars, wheels connected with the bars, and steering connec tions between the wheels and steering means.

6. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame and'extending in front thereof, a brush supporting frame connected with the second named frame, a rotary brush carriedv by the brush supporting frame, means to operate the brush, rubbish receiving means, a frame connected with the second named frame for supporting the rubbish receiving means, and wheels supporting Jthe vehicle and last named frames.

7. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame and adapted to extend in front thereof, a second frame secured in upright position to the end of the second named frame, wheels connected with and supporting the last named frame, a rubbish receptacle carried by the last named frame, a spout carried by the last named frame, a street sweeping means, and means to convey materials swept up by the sweeping means into the spout.

8. In a street. sweeper, a vehicle frame, bars secured to the frame and extending forwardly therefrom, a rotary sweeping brush,

Va shaft carried by the bars transversely` thereof, a brush operating means carried by the frame, driving connections between the shaft and operating means, brush supporting arms mounted on the shaft and connected with the brush, driving connections between the shaft and brush, means to raise and lower the brush, a rubbish receptacle supported from the bars, an endless conveyer carried by the bars and adapted to convey material swept up by the brush into the receptacle, said conveyer being free from connection with the brush, and means to raise and lower the conveyer simultaneously with the raising and lowering of the brush.

9. In a street sweeper, a frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame to extend in front thereof, a frame secured to the forward end of the first named frame, wheels carried by and supporting said second named frame, a rotary sweeping brush, means to operate the brush, a frame supporting the brush connected with the .first named frame, a rubbish receptacle supported by the second named frame, means to convey rubbish swept up by the brush into the receptacle, said brush and latter means being free from connection with one another, and means to raise and lower the brush operating to raise and lower the conveying means.

l0. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame, a. third frame secured to the second named frame, wheels connected with and supporting the second named frame, rubbish receiving means carried by the third named frame, a street sweeping means, means for connecting said means with thesecond named frame, means to convey materials swept up by the sweeping means into the rubbish receiving means, ak cover plate extending over the last named means, and an apron incasing the sides of the second named frame and covering the street s\\\'eeping and conveying means.

lil. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a` frame secured to. the vehicle frame and extending in front thereof, a frame secured to the outer end of the second named frame, wheels secured to the third named frame and to the vehicle frame, means to steer the wheels of the third named frame, a rotary swee ino member means for su a aortino said member connected with the second named frame, a rubbish receptacle carried by the third named frame, and means to convey rubbish swept up by the sweeping means into the receptacle.

l2.. In a street sweeper, a frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame, a rotary sweeping brush, a shaft for said brush, means to raise and lower the brush, a rubbish receptacle, a conveyer operatively associated with Vthe brush and receptacle, said conveyer being pivoted at its upper end to the frame and free from connection at its lower end with the frame and brush, and hooks carried by the conveyer on the lower end thereof, said hooks being located in the path of movement of said shaft whereby when the brush is raised the shaft encounters the hooks and elevates the lower end of the conveyer.

13. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame,

a frame secured to the vehicle frame, a brush supporting frame connected with the second named frame, a rotary sweeping brush, a shaft for said brush, means to rotate the brush, means to raise and lower the brush, a conveyer connected with the second named frame and having its upper end pivoted thereto and its lower end located adjacent' to the brush, said lower end being free from connection with the brush, hooks carried by the conveyer on the lower end thereof, said hooks being located in the path of movement of said shaft whereby when the brush is raised the shaft encounters `the hooks and elevates the lower end of the conveyer.

14. In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, a frame secured to the vehicle frame, abrush supporting frame connected with the second named frame, a rotary sweeping brush, a shaft for said brush, means to rotate the brush, means to raise and lower the brush, a conveyer connected with the second named frame and having its upper end pivoted thereto and its lower end located adjacent to the brush, said lower end being free from connection with the brush, hooks carried by the conveyer on the lower end thereof, said hooks being located in the path Copies of thiis patent may bev obtained for olI n'imcmeut: of said shaft whereby A'when the brush is raised the shaft encounters the hooks and elevates the lower end otl the convey-erfand means to vertically adjustably connect'v the hooks withv the conveyer.

12'). In a street sweeper, a vehicle frame, ay traniefsecure'd to the vehicle frame7 a brushsupporting frame7 a rotary sweeping brush carried by the trame,a shat't for-'said brush`r means to raise and lower the brush, means to rotate the brush, a rubbish recept-acle, Vav conveye' pivoted to the second named frame and having its lower end located adjacent:V to the brush, saidv conveyer adapted toconvey rubbish swept'up by the brush to the receptacle, hooks carried by the eonvevr, sai-d 'hooks being located in the path ot movement oi' said. lshaft whereby `whenthebrush is raised the shaftencoun- 'thereof and means to operate the brush, a

rubbish receptacle, an endless conveyer carried by theframe and operatively associated with the brush and receptacle, said conveyor being pivoted at its upper end to the frame7 means for rotating` the conveyer, a cover plate extending over the eonveyer and brush and rearwardly of the brush, and side members connected with the cover plate and inclosing the brush and eonveyer.

1T. ln a street sweeper a .traine adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame, wheels supporting the forward end ol the traine, said iframe extending in front olf the vehicle trame,.means to steer said last named wheels, a rotary sweeping brush carried by the iframe transversely thereof, means to operate the brush, a rubbish receptacle, an endless conveyer carried by the frame and opeatively associated with the brush and re eeptacle, said eonveyer heilig pivoted at its upper end to the framer` means' for rotating the conveyer7 a cover plate extending over the conveyer and brush and rearwardly of the brush, side members connected with the cover plate and inclo'sing the brush and eonveyenand a guard plate extending transversely of the frame and in front of the brush, said plate being spaced from the ground su'lticiently to clear.

Signed at. Los Angeles, California, this 31st day of July, 1916.

Clins. J. CHUNN, L. BELLE WEAVER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti.

Washington, D. C. 

